Nathan Benefield
Senior Vice President
An Ohio native, Nate holds an undergraduate degree in political science and economics and a master’s degree in public service management from DePaul University in Chicago. He also completed his doctoral studies (ABD) in political science at Loyola University, also in Chicago.
Nate joined the Commonwealth Foundation in 2005. Now as senior vice president, he provides strategic leadership as well as operational oversight spanning policy analysis, government relations, marketing, and communications.
Nate has researched and written extensively on public policy issues including the state budget, public sector labor reform, government spending and taxes, liquor privatization, education, and economic development. Under Nate’s policy leadership, the Commonwealth Foundation’s work on public sector pension law helped drive the bipartisan pension reform of 2017, heralded by the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post as an example for other states to follow.
Nate has testified numerous times before state legislative committees and is often called upon by legislators and members of the media to provide expertise. He is a frequent commentator on both television and radio, and his writings have appeared across the state and nationally in outlets including the Philadelphia Inquirer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Patriot-News, and Weekly Standard.
Nate’s favorite rock song and personal motto are both “Don’t Stop Believin.”
Taxes & Economy
$4 Gasbags
Wall Street Journal looks at the absurdity of Congress’ posturing to “do something” about high gas prices – except allow increased US production of gasoline. “Pain at the Pump”…
Media
Read More: $4 GasbagsRegulation
Did slots hurt lottery collections?
A new report by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee find that slots gambling has hurt lottery revenue. Not only has lottery revenue and participation seen almost no growth…
Media
Read More: Did slots hurt lottery collections?
Video: Turnpike Lease Q&A
Video from yesterday’s luncheon on leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike is below (or click here) For additional information, our Policy Brief on the Turnpike lease is here (it…
Media
Read More: Video: Turnpike Lease Q&AEducation
Putting Children Last
The Wall Street Journal blasts efforts by Democrats—coerced by the teacher’s unions—to end the DC Opportunity Scholarship program, a program which saves kids from failing schools and…
Media
Read More: Putting Children LastTaxes & Economy
Movin’ Out/Migration Resource and Data
Here are some resource and links related to my commentary on interstate migration: Census Data and migration report United Van Lines Data and…
Media
Read More: Movin’ Out/Migration Resource and DataTaxes & Economy
Movin’ Out
With all due respect to Billy Joel’s "Allentown," the tune which best describes Pennsylvania today would likely be "Movin' Out." For years, Pennsylvania has seen residents (particularly younger ones) move…
Commentary
Read More: Movin’ OutRegulation
Will MacGyver rescue the smoking ban?
John Micek thinks the Senate Dems plan to pass a smoking ban that includes everything the conference committee bill did, plus exemptions so Scranton and Pittsburgh could pass their own…
Media
Read More: Will MacGyver rescue the smoking ban?
Tolling I-80 not a matter of “fairness”
A reader asked for a response to comments Sen. Sean Logan has been making about Turnpike lease revenue and the need to toll I-80 for “fairness”. (See Logan’s Morning…
Media
Read More: Tolling I-80 not a matter of “fairness”Public Union Democracy
Right to Work states have higher growth
The Union Label blog looks at economic growth differences between right to work and forced unionism state.
Media
Read More: Right to Work states have higher growthTaxes & Economy
Is the minimum wage behind higher unemployment?
Mark Perry makes the case that the recent uptick in unemployment in the US is partially due to the increase in the federal minimum wage (and the pending increase…
Media
Read More: Is the minimum wage behind higher unemployment?Regulation
The Nanny State Mentality
Anyone who has observed politics for long would see that too many politicians believe nothing positive would happen unless they pass a law requiring it. They think that the American…
Commentary
Read More: The Nanny State MentalityGovernment Accountability
Legislators controlling redistricting are like alcoholics tending bar
John Baer’s latest column blasts legislators who are killing reform – in particular redistricting – for their own self-interest: And who can forget Speaker Emeritus John Perzel winning…
Media
Read More: Legislators controlling redistricting are like alcoholics tending bar
No toll limit
My letter to the editor in the Patriot News on Turnpike tolls under the lease vs. under Act 44: Charles Thompson’s May 25 article, “For drivers, it’s just…
Media
Read More: No toll limitRegulation
Corporate Welfare: Bad for Business
A Capital Commerce blog post – on the subject on whether Obama is a Marxist (concluding that he is not, but he is a…
Media
Read More: Corporate Welfare: Bad for BusinessState Budget
Rendell: Furloughs to begin July 1
The Rendell administration has announced that furloughs of non-essential state workers (which includes everyone but state troopers, prison guards, liquor store clerks, casino regulators, and of course, legislative staffers…
Media
Read More: Rendell: Furloughs to begin July 1Health Care
An American Cure for Reforming Health Care
Tom Coburn presents his proposal to reform our health care system at the Manhattan Institute. Here is the core of the argument: How do we create a real…
Media
Read More: An American Cure for Reforming Health Care
Anti-I-80 Tolling Rally set for Monday
Activists calling for repeal of Act 44 (tolling of I-80) will hold a rally at the Capitol on Monday details here. Our list of resources on Act 44/I-80 tolling…
Media
Read More: Anti-I-80 Tolling Rally set for MondayTaxes & Economy
PA lags behind US economy again
The latest state GDP report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that, despite a national slowdown, Pennsylvania’s economy continues to lag behind the rest of the nation. PA’s…
Media
Read More: PA lags behind US economy againGovernment Accountability
A thousand words on Bonusgate
Randy Bish sums up Bonus-Gate (and the use of taxpayer funded lawyers to defend bonusgate) in a great cartoon. (HT: Tony Phyrillas)…
Media
Read More: A thousand words on BonusgateRegulation
Rendell administation to address pension crisis
Budget Secretary Michael Masch (a parting shot before he leaves state government at the end of the month?) unveiled a proposal to reduce the pension shock in FY…
Media
Read More: Rendell administation to address pension crisisGovernment Accountability
Are term limits working in Michigan?
Government Bytes (the blog for NTU) points to an article (with poll) that suggests term limits for Michigan legislators should be repealed. The rationale? “Of the 3,551 bills…
Media
Read More: Are term limits working in Michigan?